Description: 1522 Fries Map of China and Japan - 1st European Map of East Asia WE SELL ONLY ORIGINAL ANTIQUE MAPS - NOT REPRODUCTIONS Title: Tabula Superioris Indiae et Tartariae Majoris. Description: A seminal work, this 1522 first edition map of Lorenz Fries is the first European map to focus exclusively on East Asia, particularly on China and Japan, and the first specific map to utilize Marco Polo's geography in East Asia. Although, like most Ptolemaic maps, the geography can be a little hard to decipher by modern standards, with only a little scholarship the map unfolds. The map covers from the Arctic to the Equator (although Fries has placed the equator too far north) and from the Gulf of Thailand (Sinus Magnus) to Japan or Zipangri. It is presented on the trapezoidal projection. Latin on the verso features the map's description as well ad a description of the regions depicted. Fries based this map on Martin Waldseemüllers's wildly important world map of 1507, which he had copied and issued a reduction of in 1520. Waldsemuller's world map was important for many reasons, one of which was that it extended the traditional Ptolemaic world beyond the textual content of the Geographia by including not only the New World, but also new cartographic information about East Asia. When Fries sat down to prepare a new edition of Waldseemüller's 1513 Geographie Opus Novissima, he introduced two additional unique maps, expanding on the traditional Ptolemaic corpus: a map of Southeast Asia, and the presently offered map of China and Japan. Of the Latin place names presented, Provincia Cathai, an archaic term for northern China, is perhaps the most obvious. To the right there is an impressive illustration of the Great Kahn or King of the Tartars sitting in a tent surrounded by his army. Further south, Provincia Mangi is Polo's term for southern China. The Champa civilization, which once prospered in modern day Vietnam, is here identified as Cianba Provincia Magna (Great Champa Province). The king of Champa is illustrated on his throne. Further south Bocat represents Cambodia (Cambocati). Further south still another king appears enthroned who may be the King of Siam or Malay. Tibet, here spelled 'Tebet' is very prominant. Far to the north, the 'Balor' are identified with an accompanying photograph of a bearded hunter – these were nomadic people who according to Polo ate 'only deer.' In the Pacific to the east of China, Zinpangri is identified as a large island. This is an early term for Japan despite roughly occupying a location more precisely associated with the Philippines. Two place names are identified, Sinpaugen an Cobebe. The source for these cities are unclear and does not seem to be drawn to Polo although Sinpaugen may simply be a version of Zimpangri. This map was issued in the 1522 Lorenz Fries Strasburg edition of Ptolemy's Geographia. This edition is exceptionally rare and so may not have been a commercial success. Nonetheless subsequent editions with identical maps but revised text edited by Wilibald Pirkheimer appeared in 1525, 1535, and 1541. Size: Printed area measures 14 inches high by 20 inches wide. Condition: Good. Minor centerfold repair, top center. Light foxing. Even overall toning. Latin text on verso. Shipping: Shipping rates are not negotiable. Items are shipped within three business days of receiving payment. We are happy to consolidate shipping where possible. The following shipping options are available: 1. FedEx Overnight (45 USD). USA Only. Signature Required. 2. FedEx Ground or Home Delivery (15 USD). USA Only. 1 - 10 days. If your address is a P.O. Box and cannot ship FedEx we will ship USPS Priority and, while we ship promptly, recent postal personnel cutbacks mean that delivery may take time. Signature Required. 3. FedEx International or DHL International EXPRESS (45 USD). 4. We can use your FedEx Account. Customs: International buyers are responsible for paying duty and taxes on delivery. DHL or FedEx will contact the buyer by telephone to arrange tax payment if it is levied. Duty varies by country and we cannot predict the amount you will be charged. Some countries are duty free, others are not. Typically, a customs duty and/or VAT tax will be assessed on all parcels to continental Europe. Sometimes duty or tax is due in China, but is seems very random. Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, and Taiwan have never assessed duty on a map we shipped. Maps shipped to the UK should be duty free as educational materials, but from time to time duty of 5% is assessed incorrectly by the UK customs agents. Insurance: All shipments are insured privately against loss and damage. All of our shipments require a signature for insurance purposes. If you have any questions please feel free to email us through eBay. Other ServicesConservation Framing: Geographicus recommends basic conservation framing services for any antique paper. We do not offer this service. Antique Map Restoration: Geographicus can repair and restore your antique map. Services include deacidification cleaning flattening and backing. BEWARE anyone attempting to contact you, from a different eBay account, claiming to represent Geographicus Antique Maps. My eBay handle is GeographicusMaps. If you are contacted by email by someone offering you my items, please call me directly to be certain you are not dealing with a con artist. "
Price: 4950 USD
Location: Brooklyn, New York
End Time: 2023-11-22T21:33:56.000Z
Shipping Cost: 15 USD
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All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
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Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
